Network layer challenges of IEEE 802.11n wireless ad hoc networks

Abstract

Recent demands toward high-speed wireless networks are growing. IEEE 802.11n, as the latest standard toward achieving higher speeds, aims to enhance IEEE 802.11 for higher throughputs. There are few works which analyze performance of this protocol in single-hop networks in terms of MAC layer-based parameters. Most of these works suggest disabling the RTS/CTS handshake to reduce MAC layer overheads. However, the effects of this protocol on the upper layers, especially the network layer, are still unknown. This paper deals with investigating performance of the network layer over IEEE 802.11n. Through extensive simulations performed in NS-2 we show that although network throughput is improved using IEEE 802.11n, it suffers from the problem of fairness among receivers. We also show that enabling RTS/CTS improves fairness but may lead to bandwidth inefficiency. In addition, it is shown that even at high physical rates, the end-to-end delay does not meet delay requirements of these networks. © 2012 ICST Institute for Computer Science, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.